On the heels of Bobbie Eakes departure from the Bold and the Beautiful to take on the likes of Tad Martin (Michael E. Knight) in Pine Valley on All My Children, rumors have been circulating the internet that two-time Daytime Emmy winner, Jennifer Finnegan (Bridget) is the next to leave B&B. Can this be true? If so, why did B&B recently just invest in brand new photos of Finnegan?

Regardless of the recent investment in new photography, Soapdom can now confirm that Finnegan is indeed leaving B&B!

In a statement released earlier this week, show producers reveal that "actress Jennifer Finnigan, popular winner of back to back Emmys for her performance as Bridget Forrester on The Bold and the Beautiful, has decided not to re-sign with the long-running CBS daytime drama."

However, there will be no abrupt departure. Finnegan has agreed to continue on B&B through the new year, until the role is re-cast.

“We’ve been enchanted with Jennifer Finnigan since the day she got off the plane from Canada. Watching her incredible talent blossom over the past three years has been a true delight,” said Bradley Bell, B&B’s Executive Producer and Head Writer. “We are rooting for her success, but will miss her a great deal. She has all the makings to become a major star.”

Those of you who get SOAPnet be sure to tune in to SoapTalk on Tuesday, November 4. Finnegan is a guest and from what setside sources have told us – she discusses her departure from B&B on that episode of SoapTalk! In fact, during the taping of that episode is where she first announced her choice to leave B&B.

Finnegan joined the cast of B&B in July of 2000 as the teenage daughter of Eric Forrester (John McCook) and Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang). Due to her impressive and mature performance, the character of Bridget quickly became involved in front burner storylines.

"When I first arrived on the show, she was a very young character," explains Finnegan. "Because of the way I wanted to play her, as an intelligent and very mature for her age girl, the writers accommodated me with that and within a year she had aged from 16 to 18 and was getting married. She has matured, become stronger and more assertive." Finnegan proved that she was one of the most talented young performers in daytime when she won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress for two years in a row.

Finnegan is currently meeting with various networks and studios to discuss potential projects. “I’m a little apprehensive about taking this big step, but have received so much encouragement from everyone, that I’m confident that this is the right time to continue my professional journey into other areas of acting,” said Finnigan.

Will Finnegan follow in the footsteps of former co-star Eakes and end up on another soap? Could she end up across the hall at CBS Television City in the role of Victoria on The Young and the Restless for example? Or is she done with daytime for a while and seeking to pursue primetime and/or features? Find out when you tune in to SoapTalk on November 4th!